Appeal process
In order to be able to respond promptly to potential risks and violations relating to human rights and environmental issues, it is important that we are informed of such cases as quickly as possible. To this end, we have created a system that allows violations (or suspected violations) to be reported to Eppendorf via various channels.
Receipt of the complaint
Who can submit complaints?
All persons, in particular those who are potentially or actually affected by negative impacts due to our economic activities or the activities of our suppliers, as well as their representatives
What can be reported?
Violations or the risk of violations of environmental regulations, social standards and human rights, occupational health and safety regulations and health protection through our business activities or the activities of our suppliers.
How can complaints be submitted?
About the Eppendorf Compliance Line : Further information and access can be found on our Eppendorf Compliance Line page.
Alternatively, you can also contact the Human Rights Officer directly by post or email (although these channels are only available in German and English). It is helpful if the 5 W questions are taken into account when submitting the complaint: Who, What, When, How, Where. You are welcome to supplement this information with details of the expectations of the complaint and whether and which other complaints procedures will be used.
PERSONAL/CONFIDENTIAL
Eppendorf SE
Globale Nachhaltigkeit & HSE
Büro für Menschenrechte
Barkhausenweg 1
22339 Hamburg
Handling of complaints
Complaints are handled in accordance with our rules of procedure. Effective protection against any discrimination or punishment of the whistleblower is ensured, including by maintaining anonymity and confidentiality of information, as well as through continuous communication with complainants in order to identify signs of possible retaliation at an early stage (even after the complaint has been processed) and, if necessary, to build competence in relation to their own rights.
However, when processing complaints, the limitations of complaint mechanisms must also be taken into account: evidence and proof are required to enable complaints to be processed appropriately and fairly. In addition, due to the limited number of employees with access rights, there is only a limited capacity to process complaints. Remedial measures can generally only be implemented within the (local) legal framework, taking into account the contractual framework with suppliers, and do not necessarily restore the situation to what it was before the violation.
Results of the review of the effectiveness of the complaints mechanism
The effectiveness review of the grievance mechanism is conducted with the help of key questions from the handout of the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) and the guidance on the core element of the grievance mechanism of the Automotive Industry Dialogue, published by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS), along the eight effectiveness criteria of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: legitimacy, accessibility, predictability, balance, transparency, rights compatibility, source of continuous learning, and building on exchange and dialogue. The results of the 2024 effectiveness review show potential for further development in relation to all effectiveness criteria, but particularly in relation to the effectiveness criteria of transparency and building on exchange and dialog. This is to be addressed further as part of the further development of the complaints procedure.
